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An interesting new anti-obesity drug has shown exciting results in early mouse studies. The drug is based on the same remarkable compound to give chili peppers their characteristic burn.
New research from a team at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy has revealed that capsaicin, the chemical compound responsible for the burning sensation in chilies, can activate receptors. specific energy in fat cells. TRPV1 receptors, seen in large amounts in fat cells, can trigger the burning of energy instead of storing it.
But the mere concentration of capsaicin and its administration have not been considered a particularly feasible anti-obesity treatment. The researchers modified the compound and developed a drug called Metabocin. This new drug provides for a slower and more sustained release of capsaicin in an organism, improving the bioavailability of the compound and reducing side effects or toxicity.
Initial studies in animals have shown that the drug effectively promotes weight loss. and activate the thermogenesis of brown fat. The most recent experiments have examined the safety profile of the drug during long-term use. After eight months of continuous treatment, mouse models showed no safety problems and continued to lose weight.
"This proved safe and was well tolerated by the mice," says Baskaran Thyagarajan, the project's lead researcher. "The development of Metabocin as an anti-obesity treatment is promising as part of a robust strategy to help people with obesity."
But before rushing into a bottle of chili sauce, Thyagarajan also notes that these clinically significant effects can not be achieved simply by eating a lot of spicy foods.
"Eating chilies can be beneficial, but it's not possible to get the proper dose of capsaicin through peppers," says Thyagarajan. "It's because various peppers contain a varying amount of capsaicin."
Next steps in the research will explore the safety of the drug, and then the effectiveness, in human trials. The team is currently seeking funds to undertake these clinical trials and is also developing new capsaicin treatments for more site-specific obesity therapies. One project includes an injectable formulation of capsaicin that can be specifically administered to trigger anti-obesity effects in localized areas.
Source: Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior
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